Systems and methods of displaying virtual elements on a multipositional display

ABSTRACT

A method of presenting visual information to a user includes detecting a position of a display relative to a surrounding environment, detecting movement of the display relative to the surrounding environment in real time, and updating a present of visual information on the display relative to a virtual reference frame updated in real time based upon the movement of the display relative to the surrounding environment.

BACKGROUND Background and Relevant Art

Computing devices are becoming hubs for business meetings, planning,designing, and communications. Collaborative work on conventionalcomputing devices has been limited, however. Conventional computingdevices are primarily designed for a single-user to interact with thecomputing device at a time. The input devices and display of aconventional computing device typically do not facilitate collaborativework around a single computing device.

Recent large format computing devices have larger displays and allowinput and viewing by more than one user at a time. Collaborativecomputing devices and other computing devices allow for communicationbetween groups of users, for example, in a business meeting. Thecollaborative computing device allow for users to interact with other,remote users through the large format display.

However, interaction with other users and presentation and input to thecomputing device commonly use different orientations or formats for thedisplay and/or computing device. Interacting with a remote user, forexample, in a web-conference is more natural when the display isoriented vertically allowing a majority of the user's body to be presentin the frame. Presenting information from a website or in an applicationpresentation (e.g., a slideshow) to local users may be more intuitiveand comfortable with the display is oriented horizontally allowing moreinformation to be visible to the room.

Moving a large format display or other computing device between avertical orientation and a horizontal orientation on a conventionaldisplay support may be cumbersome, hazardous, or require multipleadjustments to the display support that interrupts the user experienceor limits functionality of the device.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to implementations thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one exemplary technology area where some implementationsdescribed herein may be practiced.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one implementation, a method of presenting visual information to auser includes detecting a position of a display relative to asurrounding environment, detecting movement of the display relative tothe surrounding environment in real time, and updating a present ofvisual information on the display relative to a virtual reference frameupdated in real time based upon the movement of the display relative tothe surrounding environment.

In another implementation, a system for presenting visual informationincludes a display, a base, a connection mechanism that allows rotationof the display relative to the base, at least one orienting deviceconfigured to detect an orientation of the display relative to the base,and a computing device. The computing device is in communication withthe display and the at least one orienting device. The computing deviceincludes a microprocessor and a hardware storage device havinginstructions thereon that when executed by the microprocessor cause thecomputing device to receive at least one of a translation or rotationinformation from the at least one orienting device regarding position ofthe display, calculate at least one of a reference frame translation orrotation of a virtual environment, rotate and translate a referenceframe of the virtual environment according to the calculated referenceframe translation and rotation, and display a rotated and translatedvirtual environment with the display.

In a further implementation, a system for presenting visual informationincludes a display, a base, a connection mechanism that allows rotationof the display relative to the base, at least one orienting deviceconfigured to detect an orientation of the display relative to the base,and a computing device. The computing device is in communication withthe display and the at least one orienting device. The computing deviceincludes a microprocessor and a hardware storage device havinginstructions thereon that when executed by the microprocessor cause thecomputing device to receive rotation and translation information fromthe at least one orienting device regarding position of the display,calculate a reference frame rotation and translation of a virtualenvironment, rotate and translate a reference frame of the virtualenvironment according to the calculated reference frame translation androtation, and display a rotated and translated virtual environment withthe display.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the descriptionwhich follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or maybe learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features andadvantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims. Features of the present disclosure will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims or maybe learned by the practice of the disclosure as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otherfeatures of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particulardescription will be rendered by reference to specific implementationsthereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For betterunderstanding, the like elements have been designated by like referencenumbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of thedrawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, atleast some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that thedrawings depict some example implementations, the implementations willbe described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1-1 is a front view of an implementation of a display system;

FIG. 1-2 is a side view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 1-1 ;

FIG. 1-3 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 1-1 in a first position;

FIG. 1-4 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 1-1 in an intermediate position;

FIG. 1-5 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 1-1 in a second position;

FIG. 2-1 is a front view of another implementation of a display system;

FIG. 2-2 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 2-1 in a first position;

FIG. 2-3 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 2-1 in an intermediate position;

FIG. 2-4 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 2-1 in a second position;

FIG. 3 is an example torque curve of an implementation of a connectionmechanism;

FIG. 4 is an example torque curve of another implementation of aconnection mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an example torque curve of yet another implementation of aconnection mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a graph comparing the torque to balance the gravitationalmoment of various implementations of a display system;

FIG. 7 is an example counterbalance force curve of an implementation ofa display system;

FIG. 8-1 is a rear view of an implementation of a display system in afirst position;

FIG. 8-2 is a rear view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 8-1 in a second position;

FIG. 9-1 is a rear view of another implementation of a display system ina first position;

FIG. 9-2 is a rear view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 9-1 in a second position;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of an implementation of a connection mechanism ofa display system in a first position;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of a further implementation of a display systemin a first position;

FIG. 12-1 is a rear view of an implementation of a connection mechanismin a first position;

FIG. 12-2 is a schematic representation of the connection mechanism ofFIG. 12-1 in a first position;

FIG. 12-3 is a schematic representation of the connection mechanism ofFIG. 12-1 between a first position and a second position;

FIG. 12-4 is a schematic representation of the connection mechanism ofFIG. 12-1 in a second position;

FIG. 13-1 is a rear view of a rack-and-pinion implementation of aconnection mechanism in a second position;

FIG. 13-2 is a rear view of a rack-and-pinion implementation of aconnection mechanism in a first position;

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating an example conversion curve ofrotational motion to translational motion;

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating another example conversion curve ofrotational motion to translational motion;

FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating an example potential energy curve of animplementation of a display system;

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating another example potential energy curveof an implementation of a display system;

FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating two torque curves of a dampened andcounterbalanced display system;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method of present visualinformation to a user;

FIG. 20-1 is an example of a display image on a display in a firstposition;

FIG. 20-2 is an example of the display image on a display of FIG. 20-1in an intermediate position;

FIG. 20-3 is an example of the display image on a display of FIG. 20-1in a second position;

FIG. 21-1 is a front view of an implementation of a display systemhaving a plurality of orienting devices in a first position;

FIG. 21-2 is a front view of the implementation of a display system ofFIG. 21-1 in a second position;

FIG. 22-1 is an example of a display image on a display system in afirst position;

FIG. 22-2 is an example of the display image on a display system of FIG.22-1 in an intermediate position; and

FIG. 22-3 is an example of the display image on a display of FIG. 22-1in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally relates to computing devices, support devices,support systems, and methods of use. More particularly, this disclosuregenerally relates to displays and/or computing devices supported by astand having a movable connection. In some implementations, a display ofa computing device according to the present disclosure may be rotatablerelative to a support base. The display may translate relative to thesupport base during the rotation. For example, the movable connectionmay couple the rotational movement and the translational movement of thedisplay such that a pivot point of the connection may translate duringrotation of the display about the pivot point. In at least one example,a user rotating the display between a horizontal orientation (i.e.,landscape orientation) and a vertical orientation (i.e., portraitorientation) may rotated the display through a 90° rotation while theorigin or centerpoint of the display mount translates at least 10 mm.

In some implementations, the rotation and translation of the displayrelative to the base may be dampened during the movement. For example,the dampening may be a constant dampening through the range of motion ofthe connection mechanism. In other examples, the dampening may vary inthe range of motion. In at least one example, the dampening may have alocal maximum near a stable position (e.g., a horizontal orientation ora vertical orientation) that limits and/or prevents sudden movement ofthe display, while allowing faster movement thereafter toward anotherstable position with greater dampening upon approaching the secondstable position.

In some implementations, the rotation and translation of the displayrelative to the base may be counterbalanced during the movement. Forexample, the translation component of the movement between a firstposition and a second position may include moving the mass of thedisplay and/or display mount relative to gravity. The counterbalanceforce may offset the weight of the display, allowing movement betweenthe first position and the second position with the same application offorce, irrespective of the direction of movement.

In some implementations, the connection mechanism may apply a torqueand/or force between the base and the display. For example, a connectionmechanism may have one or more devices that apply a force against thedirection of movement to limit or prevent the display shifting from astable position. In other examples, the connection mechanism may apply aforce between two stable positions to urge the display toward one of thetwo stable positions. In other words, the display system may be bistablein a first position and a second position with any orientation of thedisplay therebetween being unstable and migrating to one of the firstposition or second position.

In some implementations, the display and computing device may becombined, such that the computing device rotates as the display rotates.For example, the display supported by the base and connection mechanismmay be an all-in-one computing device in which substantially allcomputing components of the computing device are contained within themovable housing. In other implementations, the display may rotate whilethe computing device remains stationary. For example, the display may besupported contained in a movable housing supported by the connectionmechanism and base, while other components of the computing device maybe located on the base or remotely while in data communication with thedisplay.

In some implementations, the display may include an accelerometer,gyroscope, camera, or other device that measures the orientation and/orposition of the display and may detect movement of the display. Forexample, an accelerometer may measure the direction of gravitationalacceleration and provide the computing device with an orientation and/orposition relative to gravity. In other examples, a gyroscope may measuredeflection (i.e., rotation) from a known position and provide thecomputing device with an orientation and/or position relative to theknown position. In yet other examples, a camera may identify one or moreobjects or features in a surrounding environment of the display andprovide the computing device with an orientation and/or positionrelative to the environment. In at least one example, an orientingdevice may measure the position of the base relative to the display,allowing the computing device to extrapolate environmental referencesbased on assumptions of the positioning of the base (such as the basebeing positioned on a horizontal floor).

In some implementations, visual information shown on the display may beoriented relative to a constant external reference frame andirrespective of the orientation of the display. For example, visualinformation on the display may be displayed according to a referenceframe fixed relative to gravity. As the display rotates and/ortranslates, the virtual reference frame may rotate and translate suchthat the external reference frame (from a perspective of a user) mayremain constant and the visual information may rotate and/or translatein real time relative to the display. The visual information may remainoriented in a constant external reference frame relative to a user, thebase, the environment, gravity, or other reference objects ordirections. The visual information that is located in a portion of thedisplay that is present in both the first position and the secondposition may be displayed in substantially the same location relative tothe user. Moving the display may “create” or “remove” additional displayspace that may be rendered in real time, such that the display appearsto a user as a “window” into a virtual and/or remote environment.

FIG. 1-1 is a front view of an implementation of a display system 100according to the present disclosure. The display system 100 may includea display 102 and a base 104, where the display 102 is movable relativeto the base 104. The display 102 may be in data communication with acomputing device 108 that provides visual information to the display102, which the display 102, in turn, presents to a user. In someimplementations, the display 102 may be an all-in-one computing device108 in which components of the computing device 108 are contained in ashared housing 106 with the display. For example, the display 102 mayshare a housing 106 with components including a microprocessor, such asa CPU, a GPU, a physics processor, or other general or dedicatedmicroprocessor; system memory, such as RAM, graphics RAM, or othersystem memory; a hardware storage device (which may have instructionsthereon that include one or more methods described herein), such as aplaten-based storage device, a solid state storage device, or othernon-transitory or long-term storage device; a communication device(e.g., communication by WIFI, BLUETOOTH, Ethernet, or other wired orwireless communication methods); input devices, such as a touch-sensingdevice, stylus, trackpad, trackball, gesture recognition device,cameras, or other input devices; one or more thermal management devices,such as fans, heat-transfer pipes or fins, liquid cooling conduits, orother thermal management devices; audio devices, such as speakers oraudio output connections; power supplies, such as batteries, convertors,or wired power supply units that may be connected to a local electricitygrid; or other components of the computing device 108.

In at least one example, the display 102 may be a touch-sensing displaythat allows users to directly interact with the display 102 and/orvisual information presented on the display 102. The display 102 may bea light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode(LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, or other type ofdisplay.

FIG. 1-2 is a side view of the implementation of the display system 100described in relation to FIG. 1-1 . The display system 100 may include adisplay mount 110 that connects the display 102 to a connectionmechanism 112 positioned between the base 104 and the display102/display mount 110. The connection mechanism 112 may include one ormore devices that allow the rotation and/or translation of the display102 and/or display mount 110 relative to the base 104.

As shown in FIG. 1-2 , some implementations of the display system 100may have a base 104 that is configured to support the display 102 abovethe ground, a floor, or other horizontal surface. For example, thedisplay system 100 may be positioned on the floor of an office orpositioned on an entertainment center. In other examples, the displaysystem 100 may be positioned on a rolling cart to allow the displaysystem 100 to be easily moved between rooms in an office. In otherimplementations, the base 104 may be a plate that is connectable to avertical surface, such as a wall, inside a cabinet, to another verticalsupport (such as on a rolling cart) or other vertical surface that maysupport the mass of the display system 100. In yet otherimplementations, the base 104 may support the display 102 in anon-vertical position. For example, the base 104 may be an easel thatsupports the display 102 at a non-perpendicular angle to the ground. Insome examples, the base 104 may be adjustable.

FIG. 1-3 through FIG. 1-5 illustrate an implementation of moving thedisplay system 100 between a first position and a second position. FIG.1-3 is a front view of the display system 100 in a first position withthe display 102 in a landscape orientation relative to the base 104.FIG. 1-3 illustrates an initial centerpoint 114 of the display 102 inthe first position for reference coinciding with the pivot point 116 ofthe display 102 as the display 102 moves. While FIG. 1-3 illustrates thefirst position as being a horizontal, landscape orientation of thedisplay 102, it should be understood that the first position may be anyorientation of the display 102 including horizontal, vertical, or anyorientation therebetween.

FIG. 1-4 illustrates the display system 100 between the first positionand a second position. The display 102 may rotate as a force or torqueis applied to a portion of the display 102. A user may rotate thedisplay 102 relative to the base 104 by applying a force to the display102 manually (e.g., with the user's hand) or by actuating one or moreelectric, mechanical, or another powered assist. In someimplementations, at least a portion of the force may be pneumatic,hydraulic, electrical, mechanical, magnetic, or other mechanism.

During the rotation 118 of the display 102, the display 102 mayexperience a translation 120. For example, the pivot point 116 of thedisplay 102 may translate relative to the initial centerpoint 114 of thedisplay 102 in the first position. As shown in FIG. 1-5 , the pivotpoint 116 of the display 102 may continue to translate relative to theinitial centerpoint 114 throughout the rotation of the display 102. Inother examples, the pivot point 116 may translate relative to theinitial centerpoint 114 during only a portion of the rotation. In atleast one example, the pivot point 116 may be stationary relative to theinitial centerpoint 114 during a first 45° of rotation and may translaterelative to the initial centerpoint 114 during a second 45° of rotation.FIG. 1-5 illustrates an example of a second position of the displaysystem 100 in which the display 102 is oriented in a vertical position(i.e., portrait orientation) relative to the base 104. While FIG. 1-5illustrates the first position as being a vertical, portrait orientationof the display 102, it should be understood that the second position maybe any orientation of the display 102 including horizontal, vertical, orany orientation therebetween that is different from the first position.

Similarly, while FIG. 1-3 through FIG. 1-5 illustrate approximately a90° rotation of the display 102 from the first position to the secondposition, the movement between the first position and second positionmay include any amount of rotation, such as 45°, 90°, 180°, 270°, 360°,or other orientations. For example, a display 102 that with arectangular aspect ratio may offer different viewing modes when rotated90° between the first position and second position. However, a display102 with a square aspect ratio, or a display that is non-orthogonal, mayoffer different or useful viewing modes when rotate at other anglesrelative to the base.

The pivot point 116 of the display 102 may translate relative to aninitial centerpoint 114 during a first 90° of rotation (i.e., betweenthe first position and the second position) a translation distance 122that may be vertical, horizontal, or any direction therebetween relativeto the base 104. In some implementations, the translation distance 122may be in a range having an upper value, a lower value, or upper andlower values including any of 10 millimeters (mm), 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm, 150 mm,200 mm, 250 mm, 300 mm, or any values therebetween. For example, thetranslation distance 122 may be greater than 10 mm. In other examples,the translation distance 122 may be less than 300 mm. In yet otherexamples, the translation distance 122 may be between 10 mm and 300 mm.In further examples, the translation distance 122 may be between 20 mmand 200 mm. In yet further examples, the translation distance 122 may bebetween 50 mm and 150 mm. In at least one example, the translationdistance 122 may be about 100 mm.

Translating the display 102 during rotation may allow a user to accessmore of the display 102 in the portrait orientation. For example, alarge format display may be positioned at eye-level for easy viewing inlandscape mode. When rotated into portrait orientation, a portion of thedisplay 102 may be positioned too high for a user to access orcomfortably access to interact with a touch-sensing display or using astylus. Additionally, video conferencing may be more natural to a userwhen a display 102 is oriented in portrait mode to show a largerproportion of a second user's body, as opposed to remaining positionedat eye-level of the user with a portion of the display 102 presentingthe ceiling of the remote location. In other words, a greater proportionof the display 102 may be utilized for interaction in portraitorientation with translation than without translation.

In order to facilitate movement of the display between the firstposition and the second position in an efficient and safe manner, theconnection mechanism that connects the display mount to the base mayhave one or more mechanical linkages, dampening device, counterbalancedevices, or other components that assist and/or resist the rotationand/or translation of the display at different positions in the range ofmotion.

In some implementations, movement of the display system 100 between thefirst position and the second position may require a maximum torque in arange having an upper value or upper and lower values including any of4.0 pound-feet (5.4 Newton-meters) of torque, 6.0 pound-feet (8.1Newton-meters) of torque, 8.0 pound-feet (10.8 Newton-meters) of torque,10 pound-feet (13.6 Newton-meters) of torque, 12 pound-feet (16.3Newton-meters) of torque, 15 pound-feet (20.3 Newton-meters) of torque,20 pound-feet (27.1 Newton-meters) of torque, 30 pound-feet (40.7Newton-meters) of torque, 40 pound-feet (54.2 Newton-meters) of torque,or any values therebetween. For example, the movement of the displaysystem 100 between the first position and the second position mayrequire a maximum torque less than 40 pound-feet (54.2 Newton-meters).In other examples, the movement of the display system 100 between thefirst position and the second position may require a maximum torque lessthan 30 pound-feet (40.7 Newton-meters). In yet other examples, themovement of the display system 100 between the first position and thesecond position may require a maximum torque less than 20 pound-feet(27.1 Newton-meters). In further examples, the movement of the displaysystem 100 between the first position and the second position mayrequire a maximum torque less than 10 pound-feet (13.6 Newton-meters).In at least one example, the movement of the display system 100 betweenthe first position and the second position may be performed by anelderly user using only one hand.

FIG. 2-1 through 2-4 illustrate another implement of a display system200 with a stationary pivot point that is offset (e.g., at an angle)from the centerpoint of the display 202. FIG. 2-1 is a side viewillustrating a structure of an implementation of the display system 200.As described herein, the display 202 may be in communication with acomputing device 208 that is outside of the housing 206 of the display202. In the illustrated implementation, the display 202 is movablerelative to the computing device 208 by the connection mechanism 212positioned therebetween. The computing device 208 may be fixed (e.g.,rotationally fixed) to the base 204 and remain stationary while thedisplay 202 moves between the first position and second position.

FIG. 2-2 is a is a front view of the display system 200 in a firstposition with the display 202 in a landscape orientation relative to thebase 204. FIG. 2-2 illustrates an initial centerpoint 214 of the display202 in the first position offset from a pivot point 216 of the display202 as the display 202 moves. For example, as shown the pivot point 216may be rotationally offset at an angle from the initial centerpoint 214.The angle may be 30°, 45°, 60°, or any angle that provides the desiredrotation and/or translation of the pivot point 216. While FIG. 2-2illustrates the first position as being a horizontal, landscapeorientation of the display 202, it should be understood that the firstposition may be any orientation of the display 202 including horizontal,vertical, or any orientation therebetween.

FIG. 2-3 illustrates the display system 200 between the first positionand a second position during rotation 218. The display 202 may rotate asa force or torque is applied to a portion of the display 202. A user mayrotate the display 202 relative to the base 204 by applying a force tothe display 202 manually (e.g., with the user's hand) or by actuatingone or more electric, mechanical, or another powered assist. In someimplementations, at least a portion of the force may be pneumatic,hydraulic, electrical, mechanical, magnetic, or other mechanism.

The display 202 may rotate about the pivot point 216 to translate thetranslated centerpoint 214-2 from the initial centerpoint 214-1. Thetranslation 220 may follow an arcuate path 221. In some implementations,the arcuate path 221 may have a constant radius (e.g., may be a segmentof a circular path). In other implementations, the arcuate path 221 maybe a curved path that is non-circular. For example, the arcuate path 221may be a portion of an ellipse or other exponential curve.

FIG. 2-4 shows the display system 200 in the second position. The pivotpoint 216 of the display 202 may remain stationary relative to the base204 throughout the rotation of the display 202 while the translatedcenterpoint 214-2 of the display 202 moves in the arcuate path 221.While FIG. 2-4 illustrates the first position as being a vertical,portrait orientation of the display 202, it should be understood thatthe second position may be any orientation of the display 202 includinghorizontal, vertical, or any orientation therebetween that is differentfrom the first position.

The translated centerpoint 214-2 of the display 202 may translaterelative to an initial centerpoint 214-1 during the rotation (i.e.,between the first position and the second position) a translationdistance 222 that may be vertical, horizontal, or any directiontherebetween relative to the initial centerpoint 214-1 and/or base 204.In some implementations, the translation distance 222 may be in a rangehaving an upper value, a lower value, or upper and lower valuesincluding any of 10 millimeters (mm), 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm,50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm, 150 mm, 200 mm, 250mm, 300 mm, or any values therebetween. For example, the translationdistance 222 may be greater than 10 mm. In other examples, thetranslation distance 222 may be less than 300 mm. In yet other examples,the translation distance 222 may be between 10 mm and 300 mm. In furtherexamples, the translation distance 222 may be between 20 mm and 200 mm.In yet further examples, the translation distance 222 may be between 50mm and 150 mm. In at least one example, the translation distance may beabout 100 mm.

FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 are example implementations of a torque curve of aconnection mechanism that is positioned between and connects the displaymount to the base. The torque curve may reflect the resistance and/orassistance a user experiences while attempting to move the displaybetween the first position and the second position relative to the base.In some implementations, the torque curve may be approximately the samemoving from the first position to the second position and moving fromthe second position to the first position. In other words, theconnection mechanism may provide the same amount of resistance and/orassistance in the same angular locations in either rotational direction.For example, the connection mechanism may include a counterbalancedevice that applies a force opposing the force of gravity of the displayand display mount to assist translating the display and display mountvertically upward. The result of the counterbalance device may be anapproximately equal amount of force needed to translate the displayvertically upwards or downwards.

In other implementations, a connection mechanism may have a first torquecurve moving from the first position to the second position and adifferent, second torque curve moving from the second position to thefirst position. For example, the connection mechanism may lack acounterbalance device, such that more force is needed to translate thedisplay and display mount vertically upward than downward. In otherexamples, a connection mechanism with a first torque curve may resistcounterclockwise rotation of the display through the first 10° ofrotation from the first position and may assist rotation (e.g., rotateon its own) after the first 10° of rotation for a remaining 80° ofcounterclockwise rotation to the second position. The connectionmechanism with a second torque curve may resist clockwise rotation ofthe display through the first 10° of rotation from the second positionand may assist rotation (e.g., rotate on its own) after the first 10° ofrotation for a remaining 80° of clockwise rotation when returning to thefirst position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a torque curve that is similar in either rotationaldirection (e.g., from a 0° orientation toward a 90° orientation, or fromthe 90° orientation toward the 0° orientation). In some implementations,the torque curve may exhibit similar but not identical behavior ineither rotational direction due to differences in spring rates and/ororientation of the application of force to the connection mechanism ineach rotational direction. For example, the torque curve of FIG. 3includes similar zones or stages, while the magnitude of force appliedin those zones or stages may be difference. In other implementations,the torque curve may be different in each rotational direction (e.g.,from a 0° orientation toward a 90° orientation, and from the 90°orientation toward the 0° orientation). For example, the display systemmay have resist movement away from whichever position in which thedisplay begins; the direction of the torque of the connection mechanismmay be based upon the position of the display. In at least one example,the torque curve may resist movement from the landscape orientation(e.g., apply a force resisting the rotation and translation away fromthe landscape orientation) and may continue to resist that movementthroughout the entire rotation to the portrait orientation. Uponreaching the portrait orientation, the torque curve of the connectionmechanism may change, resisting movement from the portrait orientation(e.g., apply a force resisting the rotation and translation away fromthe portrait orientation) and may continue to resist that movementthroughout the entire rotation back to the landscape orientation.

In some implementations, the torque curve may have different operatingregions or stages, such that the connection mechanism applies adifferent torque or otherwise functions differently at differentrotational positions between the first position and the second position.For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a torque curve with a discovery stage124 immediately adjacent the first position at 0° orientation. Theconnection mechanism may generate relatively little torque in thediscovery stage 124, such that a user may move the display easily withinthe discovery stage 124 to “discover” the movable nature of the displayorganically during interaction with the display. The discovery stage 124may abut a hard stop of the rotation, such that the system “allows”rotation with little resistance in a first rotation direction andprevents rotation in the opposing second rotational direction. Forexample, the discovery stage 124 may have an angular width of less than5°, less than 3°, less than 2°, or less than 1° from the end of therotational range of motion. This allows a user to “discover” therotational direction organically through interaction with the displaysystem.

Following the discovery stage 124 as the display moves toward the secondposition, an initiation stage 126 of the torque curve may include theconnection mechanism generating a higher level of torque to resist thedisplay moving from the first position. The initiation stage 126 maylimit or prevent a user accidentally or unintentionally moving thedisplay from the first position during use. The initiation stage 126 mayallow the display to be stable in the first position until the torque ofthe initiation stage 126 is overcome. In other words, a user may movethe display through the discovery stage 124 and partially into theinitiation stage 126 when, upon releasing the display in the initiationstage 126, the torque applied by the connection mechanism may return thedisplay to the first position.

In some implementations, the initiation stage 126 may have an angularwidth having an upper value, a lower value, or an upper and lower valueincluding any of 1°, 2°, 5°, 10°, 15°, or any values therebetween. Forexample, the initiation stage 126 may have an angular width greater than1°. In other examples, the initiation stage 126 may have an angularwidth less than 15°. In yet other examples, the initiation stage 126 mayhave an angular width between 1° and 15°. In further examples, theinitiation stage 126 may have an angular width less than 10°. In yetfurther examples, the initiation stage 126 may have an angular widthabout 5°. In at least one example, the initiation stage 126 may bewithin 45° of the first position.

The initiation stage 126 may provide a local maximum of torque againstthe rotational movement of the display to ensure the rotation of thedisplay by a user is intentional. Upon overcoming the relatively hightorque of the initiation stage 126, a resistance stage 128 may follow.The resistance stage 128 of the torque curve may apply a torque to thedisplay to resist the rotational movement of the display. However, thetorque of the resistance stage 128 may be less than that of theinitiation stage 126. For example, the user may experience theinitiation stage 126 as a resistance to a movement of the display, butupon overcoming the initiation stage 126, the lower torque of resistancestage 128 may communicate to a user that the display is designed tocontinue rotating. In other words, continued high resistance of theinitiation stage 126 may be understood by a user to indicate that theuser is “forcing the rotation” of the display, while a reduction in thetorque through the resistance stage 128 may encourage a user to continuerotating the display.

Similar to the initiation stage 126, the resistance stage 128 may allowthe display to be stable in the first position until the torque of theresistance stage 128 is overcome. In other words, a user may move thedisplay through the discovery stage 124, the initiation stage 126, andpartially into the resistance stage 128 when, upon releasing the displayin the resistance stage 128, the torque applied by the connectionmechanism may return the display to the first position throughresistance stage 128, the initiation stage 126, and the discovery stage124.

In some implementations, the resistance stage 128 may have an angularwidth having an upper value, a lower value, or an upper and lower valueincluding any of 1°, 2°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, 40°, or any valuestherebetween. For example, the resistance stage 128 may have an angularwidth greater than 1°. In other examples, the resistance stage 128 mayhave an angular width less than 40°. In yet other examples, theresistance stage 128 may have an angular width between 1° and 40°. Infurther examples, the resistance stage 128 may have an angular widthless than 20°. In at least one example, the resistance stage 128 mayhave an angular width about 18°.

A balanced stage 130 of the torque curve may rotationally follow theresistance stage 128 (e.g., may occur after rotating the display throughthe resistance stage 128 toward the second position) and provide alocation or range of locations in the torque curve in which the displaysystem is balanced (i.e., torque is approximately zero). For example,the display and/or connection mechanism may remain stationary when auser force or other outside force is removed from the display system inthe balanced stage 130. In other words, when in the balanced stage 130,the user can remove the user's hands from the display and the displaywill remain in the partially rotated position between the first positionand the second position.

In some implementations, the balanced stage 130 may be an unstableequilibrium point, such that the display system is bistable in eitherthe first position or the second position. In other implementations,such as that with the torque curve shown in FIG. 3 , the balanced stage130 may have an angular width having an upper value, a lower value, oran upper and lower value including any of 1°, 2°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°,30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, or any values therebetween. For example, thebalanced stage 130 may have an angular width greater than 1°. In otherexamples, the balanced stage 130 may have an angular width less than70°. In yet other examples, the balanced stage 130 may have an angularwidth between 1° and 70°. In further examples, the balanced stage 130may have an angular width less than 45°. In at least one example, thebalanced width may have an angular width about 40°.

The torque curve may include additional stages with a torque in theopposite direction after the balanced stage 130. For example, the torquecurve may have at least one stage in which a torque is applied in thedirection of the rotation to urge the rotation toward the secondposition. FIG. 3 illustrates an approach stage 132 and a homing stage134. The approach stage 132 and homing stage 134 may, collectively orindividually, be a “pull-in” stage. The pull-in stage is any stage ofthe torque curve in which the rotation of the display is assisted by theconnection mechanism to approach a destination position. In other words,when rotating the display from the first position to the secondposition, as shown in FIG. 3 , the connection mechanism may provide atorque against the user's force in the initiation 124 and resistancestage 128 and may provide a torque assisting the user's force in theapproach stage 132 and homing stage 134 to urge the display toward thesecond position.

The approach stage 132 may assist the rotation of the display toward thedestination position (i.e., the second position in FIG. 3 ) in acontrolled manner. For example, the connection mechanism may provide atorque in the direction of the rotation approach stage 132 such that auser may stop applying a force to the display, and the display maycontinue to rotate toward the second position. In some implementations,the approach stage 132 may have an angular width having an upper value,a lower value, or an upper and lower value including any of 1°, 2°, 5°,10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, 40°, or any values therebetween. For example, theapproach stage 132 may have an angular width greater than 1°. In otherexamples, the approach stage 132 may have an angular width less than40°. In yet other examples, the approach stage 132 may have an angularwidth between 1° and 40°. In further examples, the approach stage 132may have an angular width less than 20°. In at least one example, theapproach stage 132 may have an angular width about 26°.

The homing stage 134 may have a greater torque than the approach stage132. In some implementations, the homing stage 134 may assist therotation of the display toward the destination position (i.e., thesecond position in FIG. 3 ) by urging the display toward the destinationposition with additional torque relative to the approach stage 132. Forexample, the connection mechanism may provide a torque in the directionof the rotation in the approach stage 132 to continue rotating thedisplay toward the second position, and the homing stage 134 may urgethe display with additional torque in the direction of the destinationto provide feedback to the user (tactilely and visually), that thedisplay has completed rotation to the second position. In someimplementations, the homing stage 134 may have an angular width havingan upper value, a lower value, or an upper and lower value including anyof 1°, 2°, 5°, 10°, or any values therebetween. For example, the homingstage 134 may have an angular width greater than 1°. In other examples,the homing stage 134 may have an angular width less than 10°. In yetother examples, the homing stage 134 may have an angular width between1° and 10°. In further examples, the homing stage 134 may have anangular width less than 5°. In at least one example, the homing stage134 may have an angular width about 3°.

The approach stage 132 and homing stage 134 may be the opposingdirection counterparts to the resistance stage 128 and initiation stage126, respectively. For example, the torque curve of FIG. 3 is describedfrom the perspective of the display rotating from the first position tothe second position. When rotating the display from the second positionto the first position (i.e., experiencing the torque curve of FIG. 3from the right to the left), the homing stage 134 may function as and/ormay be an initiation stage in the direction of the first position andthe approach stage 132 may function as and/or may be a resistance stage.As a user rotates the display through the balanced stage 130 toward thefirst position (moving along the torque curve to the left), theresistance stage 128 and initiation stage 126 may function as pull-instages to assist rotating the display to the first position. As such,the resistance stage 128 may function as and/or may be an approach stagein the direction of the first position and the initiation stage 126 mayfunction as and/or may be a homing stage.

FIG. 4 illustrates another implementation of a torque curve of aconnection mechanism. The torque curve may include a discovery stage 224and initiation stage 226, similar to the torque curve described inrelation to FIG. 3 . In some implementations, the transitions betweenthe stages of the torque curves may be discontinuous, such as shown inFIG. 3 and between the initiation stage 226 and resistance stage 238 ofthe torque curve of FIG. 4 .

In other implementations, the transitions between the stages of thetorque curves may be continuous such that the torque curve iscontinuous. For example, the resistance stage 228 and approach stage 232may have a continuous and/or linear relationship such that the balancedstage 230 of the torque curve may be a single point.

FIG. 4 further illustrates an example of a torque curve that issymmetrical. For example, the torque curve of the connection mechanismis identical whether the user is moving the display from the firstposition to the second position or the second position to the firstposition. In other words, a homing stage 234 is symmetrical with theinitiation stage 226.

In yet other implementations, at least one of the stages of the torquecurve may include a discrete non-zero torque value through the stage.For example, FIG. 5 illustrates and an implementation of a torque curvewith a constant torque provided by the connection mechanism in each ofthe stages. The discovery stage 324, for example, may have a constantzero torque until the initiation stage 326 that has a maximum torque ofthe torque curve. The initiation stage 326 may be followed by aresistance stage 328 that may have a constant torque that is less than amaximum torque of the initiation stage 326. A balanced stage 330 maydivide the resistance stage 328 from an approach stage 332. The approachstage 332 may be rotationally followed by a homing stage 334 that has agreater magnitude torque than the approach stage 332 to urge the displaytoward the second position.

In some implementations, the torque curve of the connection mechanismalone may be insufficient to provide a smooth and/or “weightless” feelto the display rotation for a user. For example, a torque curve that issymmetrical between the first position and the second position mayproduce an asymmetric performance due to the effect of gravity on thedisplay system rotation. For example, the rotation of the displayrelative to the base may be linked to a translation distance throughwhich the mass of the display moves. Therefore, the force of gravity mayapply a torque to the display in a static condition.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating example curves of the gravitational forceto be counteracted in order to produce a final torque curve as describedin relation to FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 . The first curve 438 representsthe effect of gravity on an implementation with an arcuate translationalpath, such as the implementation described in relation to FIG. 2-1through FIG. 2-4 . The second curve 440 and third curve 442 representthe effect of gravity on a system with a linear, vertical translationalpath, such as the implementation described in relation to FIG. 1-1through FIG. 1-5 .

More specifically, the second curve 440 illustrates a force curve of asimulated rack-and-pinion connection mechanism (which will be describedin more detail in relation to FIG. 13-1 through FIG. 13-2 ). Therack-and-pinion connection mechanism directly converts translation androtation, resulting in the constant, flat curve of the second curve 440.Irrespective of location between the first position and the secondposition, gravity may apply the same torque to the rack-and-pinionconnection mechanism. The third curve 440 illustrates a force curve of asimulated drag link connection mechanism (which will be described inmore detail in relation to FIGS. 8-1 and 8-2 ). The drag linkimplementation converts rotation to translation non-linearly, resultingin the non-linear and increasing force needed to balance the force ofgravity represented in the third curve 442.

In some implementations, a counterbalance device may be used inconjunction with the connection mechanism to approach a net-zero momenton the device. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a springcounterbalance device in an offset pivot point connection mechanismimplementation. The first curve 444 is the gravitational moment curve ofthe display as the display pivots about the offset pivot point. Forexample, the gravitational moment is greatest when the rotation is 45°,resulting in the center of mass of the display being positioned directlyhorizontally to the pivot point (i.e., the lever arm is perpendicular togravity).

The second curve 446 is the spring moment of the counterbalance device.The counterbalance device may include two springs, such that thecombined spring moment of the two springs produce a counterbalancemoment that sums with the gravitational moment to produce a net momentof the display that is less than 20% of the gravitational momentthroughout the net moment curve 448. In other implementations, thecounterbalance device may produce a counterbalance moment that sums withthe gravitational moment to produce a net moment of the display that isless than 10% of the gravitational moment throughout the net momentcurve 448. In yet other implementations, the counterbalance device mayproduce a counterbalance moment that sums with the gravitational momentto produce a net moment of the display that is less than 5% of thegravitational moment throughout the net moment curve 448.

Various implementation of a display system and/or connection mechanismmay exhibit the force curves and/or performance described herein. FIG.8-1 through 12-4 may illustrate example implementations of connectionmechanisms according to the present disclosure. FIG. 8-1 illustrates animplementation of a drag link connection mechanism 512, according to thepresent disclosure. The display 502 is shown in a landscape orientationrelative to the base 504. As described herein, the base 504 may be aplate that is configured to attach to a wall or other stand.

The connection mechanism 512 may have a curved track 550 that mayinteract with the display 502 and/or display mount 510 to allow therotation of the display 502 and/or display mount 510 relative to thebase 504. The display 502 and/or display mount 510 may be translatablevertically relative to the base 504 through one or more posts 552 thatinteract with one or more complementary linear slots or grooves 554 inan intermediate member 556. The intermediate member 556 may include thecurved track 550 and the linear slots or grooves 554, allowing therotation of the display 502 and/or display mount 510 relative to theintermediate member 556 and the linear translation of the intermediatemember 556 relative to the base 504. Therefore, the connection mechanism512 may allow the rotation and the linear translation of the display 502relative to the base 504.

The connection mechanism 512 may include a mechanical linkage that linksthe rotation of the display 502 and/or display mount 510 relative to thebase 504 to the translation of the display 502 and/or display mount 510relative to base 504. The mechanical linkage may include a drag link 558that is connected to the base 504 at a first end 560 and to the display502 and/or display mount 510 at a second end 562. The second end 562 maybe offset from the pivot point 516 of the rotation of the display 502and/or display mount 510. The drag link 558 may vertically support thedisplay 502 and/or display mount 510 relative to the base 504.

Referring now to FIG. 8-2 , as the display 502 and/or display mount 510rotates toward the second position, the offset of the connectionlocation of the second end 562 may cause the connection location of thesecond end 562 to rotate about the pivot point 516 as the display 502and/or display mount 510 rotates about the pivot point 516. Because thedrag link 558 supports the vertical position of the display 502 and/ordisplay mount 510 relative to the base 504, moving the connectionlocation of the second end 562 around the pivot point 516 may translatethe display 502 and/or display mount 510 vertically as the one or moregrooves 554 of the display 502 and/or display mount 510 slide past theone or more posts 552 of the base 504.

In other implementations, the mechanical linkage that convertsrotational movement to translational movement may be integrated into oneor more non-circular curved tracks. For example, FIGS. 9-1 and 9-2illustrate an implementation of a connection mechanism 612 with aplurality of non-circular curved tracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3 thatfunction as the mechanical linkage 658 between the base 604 and thedisplay 602 and/or display mount 610. In some implementations theconnection mechanism 612 may include non-circular curved tracks 650-1,650-2, 650-3 that, when engaged with a display 602 and/or display mount610, may allow the display and/or display mount 610 to rotate relativeto the base 604.

Circular curved tracks (such as curved track 550 described in relationto FIGS. 8-1 and 8-2 ), may allow rotation of the display and/or displaymount around a pivot point that is fixed relative to the curved tracks.In other embodiments, circular curved tracks where each has a differentradius of curvature, such as circular curved tracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3of FIGS. 9-1 and 9-2 , may allow simultaneous rotation and translationof the display 602 and/or display mount 610. For example, theimplementation of a connection mechanism 612 illustrated in FIGS. 9-1and 9-2 has a display mount 610 that engages with each of the threenon-circular curved tracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3. As the display 602and/or display mount 610 rotates, the three engagement points of thedisplay mount 610 follow the different curves of the circular curvedtracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3. These engagement points may facilitatesimultaneous rotation and translation of the display 602 and/or displaymount 610.

FIG. 9-2 illustrates the display 602 and display mount 610 in a secondposition with the engagement points at an opposite end of the circularcurved tracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3 from the position shown in FIG. 9-1 .The 90° rotation of the display 602 and display mount 610 relative tothe circular curved tracks 650-1, 650-2, 650-3 may produce a translation620 of the display 602 and display mount 610.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of an implementation of a cycloid connectionmember 712 with four non-circular curved tracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3,750-4. A plurality of posts 752 may engage with the non-circular curvedtracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3, 750-4 to allow the rotation and translationof the display mount 710 relative to the base 704. While FIG. 10illustrates the non-circular curved tracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3, 750-4positioned in the base 704 and the posts 752 fixed to the display mount710, it should be understood that the connection mechanism 712 may bereversed such that the non-circular curved tracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3,750-4 are positioned in the display and/or display mount 710 and theposts 752 are fixed relative to the base 704.

The non-circular curved tracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3, 750-4 may beconfigured to retain a constant special relationship of the posts 752.For example, the posts 752 may be fixed to the display mount 710 in asquare. In other implementations, the posts 752 may be fixes to thedisplay and/or display mount 710 in any arrangement capable ofsupporting the display and/or display mount 710. For example, the posts752 may be arranged according to a standard (Video Electronics StandardsAssociation) VESA Mounting Interface Standard positioning for a computermonitor or television. For example, the posts 752 may be arrangedaccording to VESA MIS-B, -C, -D, -D 75 mm, -E, -F M6, -F M8, or otherindustry display mounting standards.

The translation 720 of the display and/or display mount 710 may occur bythe lower relative positions of the opposite ends of each of thenon-circular curved tracks 750-1, 750-2, 750-3, 750-4. For example, thefirst non-circular curved track 750-1 is opposite the third non-circularcurved track 750-3 and shorter than the third non-circular curved track750-3. Through a 90° rotation of the display mount 710 and posts 752,the display mount 710 ends in a vertically lower position than the firstposition shown in FIG. 10 . Similarly, the second non-circular curvedtrack 750-2 and fourth non-circular curved track 750-4 are positionedopposite one another. Both the second non-circular curved track 750-2and fourth non-circular curved track 750-4 have a net decrease invertical position from the first position to the second position.Therefore, a 90° of the display mount 710 and posts 752 may include anet downward translation 720 relative to the base 704.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of an implementation of an offset pivot pointconnection mechanism 812 connecting a display 802 and display mount 810to a base 804. The connection mechanism 812 may include a curved track850 that engages with a plurality of posts 892 to allow rotation aroundthe pivot point 816. In other implementations, the curved track 850 andposts 852 may be a single post 852 at the pivot point 816 that engageswith a receiver to allow the connection mechanism to rotate about thepivot point 816. The curved track 850 and posts 852 may allow forgreater torque, counterbalancing force, dampening force, or combinationsthereof to be generated by the connection mechanism 812 in response tothe movement of the display 802 and/or display mount 810 relative to thebase 804.

In some implementations, the offset pivot point 816 may be offset froman origin 814 of the display 804 and/or display mount 801 at a 45° angle(relative to a vertical direction of the connection mechanism 812).While the offset pivot point 816 may be offset from an origin 814 of thedisplay 804 and/or display mount 801 at other angles, a 45° angle forthe offset allows a 90° rotation around the pivot point 816 with theorigin 814 returning to a 45° relationship with the pivot point 816. Ata 45° offset angle, the horizontal component of the offset may be thesame after a 90° rotation, so that the first position and secondposition of the display 802 and/or display mount 810 are verticallyaligned. Further, at a 45° offset angle, the translation distance (suchas the translation distance 222 described in relation to FIG. 2-4 ) maybe double the vertical component of the offset.

As described herein, some implementations of a connection mechanism mayinclude a counterbalance device to apply a counterbalance force tocounterbalance the vertical translation of the display and/or displaymount relative to gravity. Some implementations of a connectionmechanism may include a counterbalance device to apply a counterbalanceforce to counterbalance the vertical translation of the display and/ordisplay mount relative to gravity. In some implementations, thecounterbalance device may provide a counterbalance force thatcounterbalances at least 60% of a gravitational weight of the displayand/or display mount. In other implementations, the counterbalancedevice may provide a counterbalance force that counterbalances at least80% of a gravitational weight of the display and/or display mount. Inyet other implementations, the counterbalance device may provide acounterbalance force that counterbalances at least 90% of agravitational weight of the display and/or display mount. In yet otherimplementations, the counterbalance device may provide a counterbalanceforce that counterbalances at least 100% of a gravitational weight ofthe display and/or display mount.

In some implementations, the counterbalance device may apply a firstcounterbalance force when moving the display and display mount from thefirst position to the second position and an equal counterbalance forcewhen moving the display and display mount from the second position tothe first position. In other implementations, the counterbalance devicemay apply a first counterbalance force when moving the display anddisplay mount from the first position to the second position and asecond counterbalance force when moving the display and display mountfrom the second position to the first position, where the firstcounterbalance force and second counterbalance force are different.

FIG. 12-1 through FIG. 12-4 illustrates a connection mechanism 912 witha counterbalance device 966 to provide a counterbalance force (such asdescribed in relation to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 ), a ramp profile 968 tocreate a torque curve (such as those described in relation to FIG. 3through FIG. 5 ), and a dampening device 974 to limit the rotationalrate of the connection mechanism 912 to increase safety and reliabilityof a display system.

FIG. 12-1 is a front view of an implementation of a connection mechanism912 according to the present disclosure. The connection mechanism 912may connect the display mount 910 or display to the base 904. Theconnection mechanism 912 includes a plurality of non-circular curvedtracks 950-1, 950-2, 950-3 that engage with posts 952 to allowrotational and translational movement of the display mount 910 relativeto the base 904, such as described in relation to FIG. 9-1 through FIG.10 .

The connection mechanism 912 may include a counterbalance device 966that may apply a counterbalance force to the connection mechanism 912 toaccount for the gravitation weight of the display and display mount 910such that the display and display mount 910 do not simply fall downwardand rotate unintentionally. The counterbalance device 966 may includeone or more springs, gears, resilient members, mechanical linkages,electric motors, levers, or other devices capable of providing a forcein the connection mechanism 912 to limit the downward translation of aportion of the connection mechanism due to gravity. For example, thecounterbalance device 966 may include one or more springs that maychange in length due to relative rotation of a component of theconnection mechanism relative to another component of the connectionmechanism. A counterbalance device 966 including one spring may behaveaccording to Hooke's Law, increasing the counterbalance force as thespring changes in length. A counterbalance device 966 including aplurality of springs, such as the implementation of FIG. 12-1 , may havea more constant counterbalance force, as the plurality of springs may bestaggered to change length at different rates as the connectionmechanism 912 rotates.

In other implementations, the counterbalance device 966 may be anelectric motor that resists rotation of the connection mechanism due toa translation force. For example, the electric motor may be actuatedonly by a pressure switch that is closed upon a user applying a torqueto the display and/or display mount. In yet other implementations, thecounterbalance device 966 may include one or more levers, gears orlinkages to alter the rate at which the counterbalance force is appliedto the connection mechanism.

In some implementations, a connection mechanism 912 may include a rampprofile 968 and bearing 970 that rolls along the ramp profile 968. Theramp profile 968 may define a profile relative to a pivot point 916 ofthe connection mechanism 912. The bearing 970 may roll along the rampprofile 968 under compression by a compression element 972, such assprings, pistons-and-cylinders, bushings, or other resilient and/orcompressible members that apply a compressive force to the bearing 970.The bearing 970 may roll “down” the slope of the ramp profile 968 indifferent rotational directions and/or toward different ends of the rampprofile 968 depending upon the position of the bearing 970 on the rampprofile 968. For example, the ramp profile 968 may have a peak orplateau near or at the center that creates a balanced stage, such asthat described in relation to the torque curves of FIG. 3 through FIG. 5. In other examples, the ramp profile 968 may have regions of greaterslope near or at the ends of the ramp profile 968 such that the bearing970 applies a greater torque to the connection mechanism 912, providingthe initiation stage and/or homing stage of a torque curve. In yet otherexamples, the ramp profile 968 may be removable and/or interchangeableto allow different torque curves to be implemented using the sameconnection mechanism 912.

The connection mechanism 912 may further include a dampening device 974that provides a dampening torque that is relative to the rate ofmovement of the connection mechanism 912. A dampening device 974 mayincrease the safety and/or reliability of a display system by limitingand/or preventing rotation and/or translation that is too fast.

In some implementations, the dampening device 974 may be a layer ofgrease positioned between components of the connection mechanism. Inother implementations, the dampening device 974 may be a dampening motorthat rotates as the connection mechanism 912 rotates. The dampeningmotor may have an internal friction that increases as the rotationalrate of the dampening motor increases. While the response of thedampening motor may be constant relative to a constant rotational rateof the dampening motor, in some implementations, the rotational rate ofthe dampening motor may change even when the rotational rate of theconnection mechanism is constant.

For example, the dampening device 974 may have a non-circular gear, or acircular gear with an offset rotational axis, that engages with a track976 to turn the dampening motor at different rotational rates as theconnection mechanism 912 rotates from a first position to the secondposition. The dampening device 974, therefore, may have a variabledampening curve through the rotational range of motion of the connectionmechanism 912. For example, the dampening device 974 may provideadditional dampening in the final 10°, 5°, 3°, or 1° of either end ofthe rotational range of motion of the connection mechanism 912. Theincreased dampening may reduce impact forces of the connection mechanismagainst a hard stop, increasing the operation lifetime of the connectionmechanism and/or other components of a display system (such as thedisplay or the computing device). The increased dampening may increasethe safety of the display system by applying a greater dampening forceto more aggressively limit the speed of the movement of the displaysystem at the start of the rotation. Slower movement at the start of therotation may make impacts of the display to the user or other usersnearby less likely or less injurious.

In some implementations, the dampening device 974 may resist movementsuch that a maximum rotational rate of the connection mechanism withoutexternal force applied is less than 45° per second. In otherimplementations, the dampening device 974 may resist movement such thata maximum rotational rate of the connection mechanism without externalforce applied is less than 30° per second. In yet other implementations,the dampening device 974 may resist movement such that a maximumrotational rate of the connection mechanism without external forceapplied is less than 15° per second. In further implementations, thedampening device 974 may resist movement such that a maximum rotationalrate of the connection mechanism without external force applied is lessthan 10° per second. In at least one implementation, the dampeningdevice 974 may resist movement such that a maximum rotational rate ofthe connection mechanism without external force applied is less than 5°per second.

FIG. 12-2 illustrates the connection mechanism 912 of FIG. 12-1 in afirst position. The counterbalance device 966 may be in a lowest energystate in the first position. In other words, the counterbalance device966 may be applying the least amount of force to the connectionmechanism 912 in the first position than in any position between thefirst position and the second position. The counterbalance device 966may apply increasing amounts of counterbalance force as the connectionmechanism 912 moves toward the second position and at least a portion ofthe connection mechanism and/or display translates downward.

In the first position, the bearing 970 may be positioned at a first endof the ramp profile 968, representing the initiation stage of the torquecurve of the connection mechanism 912. The compression element 972 maybe compressing the bearing 970 against the ramp profile 968. The bearing970 may thereby resist rolling “up” the slope of the ramp profile 968,resisting the rotation of the connection mechanism 912 away from thestable first position.

FIG. 12-3 illustrates the connection mechanism 912 midway between thefirst position and the second position. The counterbalance device 966 isin a tensioned state and may be applying a greater counterbalance forceto the connection mechanism 912 in FIG. 12-3 than in the lower energystate of the first position illustrated in FIG. 12-2 . The bearing 970is positioned in the center of the ramp profile 968 at a peak in theramp profile 968; the bearing 970 is at an unstable equilibrium point,such as the balanced stage of the torque curve described in relation toFIG. 4 . The connection mechanism 912 and the bearing 970 compressedagainst the ramp profile 968 by the compression element 972 may havebeen applying a torque to the connection mechanism 912 opposing therotation of the display by the user through the first half of the rampprofile 968. Beyond the position shown in FIG. 12-3 , the bearing 970may apply a torque in the direction of rotation and toward the secondend of the ramp profile. The bearing 970 may apply a pull-in force tothe display after the position shown in FIG. 12-3 .

FIG. 12-4 illustrates the connection mechanism 912 approaching thesecond position where the bearing 970 will be in a stable position atthe second end of the ramp profile 968. The counterbalance device 966may apply a greater force at or near the second position than at thefirst position to counterbalance the force of gravity duringtranslation.

FIG. 13-1 and FIG. 13-2 illustrate yet another implementation of adisplay system with a connection mechanism 1012 that coupled rotationaland translation movement of a display 1002 relative to a base 1004.

FIG. 13-1 is a rear view of a connection mechanism 1012 including arack-and-pinion engagement to translate the display 102 relative to thebase 1004 during rotation of the display 1002. In some implementations,a portion of the rack-and-pinion may be fixed relative to the display1002. In such implementations, rotation of the display 1002 may providea rotation of a portion of the pinion 1078 relative to the rack 1080,such that the display 1002 translates linearly relative to the rack1080.

In some implementations, a counterbalance device 1066 may be fixedbetween the display 1002 and/or display mount and connection mechanism1012 and/or base 1004. FIG. 13-1 illustrates the display system 1000 ina portrait orientation. In the present implementation, thecounterbalance device 1066 may be compression spring that applies acompression or expansion force to urge the pinion 1078 upward on therack 1080. In other implementations, the portrait orientation may beconfigured with the pinion 1078 at the top of the rack 1080, and thecounterbalance device 1066 may be configured to support the display from“falling” into the landscape orientation.

In some implementations, the connection mechanism 1012 may include adampening device 1074 that is a piston and cylinder, such as a shockabsorber. The piston and cylinder may limit the rotational and/ortranslational speed of the connection mechanism 1012 by differentamounts at different positions. For example, the curved surface 1082that the dampening device 1074 follows as the connection mechanism movesfrom the first position shown in FIG. 13-1 to the second position shownin FIG. 13-2 may cause a faster linear displacement of the dampeningdevice 1074 at the ends of the curved surface 1082 than in the center,resulting in greater dampening and speed limiting. In other words,because the dampening device 1074 resists motion based on the rate ofchange of the length of the dampening device 1074, the curved surface1082 further increases the rate of change of the length of the dampeningdevice 1074 at either end of the curved surface 1082, where the ends ofthe curved surface 1082 correspond to the first position and the secondposition of the display system 1000.

As described herein, the translation and the rotation of the connectionmechanism are coupled, such that when the display and/or display mountrotates relative to a base, the display and/or display mount translatesrelative to the base, as well. In some implementations, the rotation andthe translation may have a linear relationship, such as illustrated inFIG. 14 . The z-position (or other direction of the translation) maychange linearly and constantly throughout the rotation of the connectionmechanism. In other words, the connection mechanism may convert rotationof the display and/or display mount to translation of the display and/ordisplay mount with a fixed coefficient or ratio.

FIG. 14 illustrates a linear relationship from 0° to 90°, but in otherimplementations, the rotational range may be more or less than 90°. Inother implementations, the rotational range of the connection mechanismmay be 90°, but the coupling of the rotation and translation may belinear for less than the full 90°. In yet other implementations, thecoupling of the rotation and translation may be non-linear.

For example, FIG. 15 illustrates another implementation of a conversionof rotation to translation. In the graph shown in FIG. 15 , the rotationto translation conversion relationship is non-linear. In someimplementations, the conversion relationship of the connection mechanismmay be logarithmic, exponential, discontinuous, or another non-linearrelationship. FIG. 15 further illustrates a conversion relationship thatis asymmetrical. For example, a majority of the translation occurs priorto the 45° midpoint of the rotation. In such implementations, thetranslation may occur at different rates depending upon the direction ofthe rotation and the orientation of the display in the rotational range.For example, an offset pivot connection mechanism, such as described inrelation to FIG. 2-1 through 2-4 may have a conversion relationship withlower translation ratios at or near the ends of the rotational range anda higher translation ratio at the center of the rotational range.

In some implementations, the connection mechanism may be bistable with ahigher potential energy in the center of the rotational range. Thestable positions at either end of the rotational range may be lowerenergy states that cause the system to remain in the first position orthe second position until a user imparts energy to move the system. Insome implementations, the energy curve of the connection mechanism mayhave a plateau, such that the system may remain stationary in a range oforientations between the first position (0° orientation) and the secondposition (90° orientation). For example, FIG. 16 illustrates an energycurve of an implementation of a connection mechanism that is flat from30° to 60°. In other words, the connection mechanism and/or displaysystem may be stable in orientations between 30° and 60°.

In other implementations, it may be beneficial to have the displaysystem be stable only in specific user modes. For example, animplementation of the display system may only be stable in the portraitorientation and the landscape orientation. FIG. 17 illustrates an energycurve with no plateau or flat portion. Any orientation in which thedisplay is between the 0° or the 90° position, the connection mechanismwill rotate the display toward the lower energy states of the 0°position or the 90° position. In some implementations, the energy curvemay be discontinuous, as shown in FIG. 17 , while in otherimplementations, the energy curve may be continuous and lack a plateauor flat portion.

When the torque curve of the connection mechanism, the dampening device,the counterbalance device, and the gravitational moment are consideredtogether, a display system may have two different force curves 1184-1,1184-2 that may control the rotation and translation of a displaysupported by a base. FIG. 18 illustrates a first force curve 1184-1 of adisplay system. The first force curve 1184-1 is similar to the torquecurve described in relation to FIG. 3 with additional counterbalanceforce and dampening force as the display system moves from the firstposition to the second position. The second force curve 1184-2 issimilar to the torque curve described in relation to FIG. 3 withadditional counterbalance force and dampening force as the displaysystem moves from the second position to the first position. The secondforce curve 1184-2 is the same curve as the first force curve 1184-1with the dampening device applying the dampening force in the oppositedirection (due to the rotation and translation being oriented in theopposite direction). The dampening may be greater near the firstposition and/or second position causing a greater end displacement1186-2 between the force curves 1184-1, 1184-2 near the ends of theforce curves 1184-1, 1184-2 than a center displacement 1186-1 in thecenter of the force curves 1184-1, 1184-2. The dampening device mayimpart a hysteresis to the force curves 1184-1, 1184-2, both slowing therotation and dissipating energy of the system.

A display system according to the present disclosure may allow for thedisplay of visual information or virtual environments in a plurality oforientations. For example, the display system may present visualinformation and/or virtual environments according to a fixed referenceframe irrespective of rotation, translation, or other movement of thedisplay in real time. In other words, movement of the display may alterthe “frame” through which a user views the visual information and/orvirtual environment without moving the visual information and/or virtualenvironment relative to an initial position. In at least one example, avirtual element may remain stationary on the display relative to a baseof the display system during rotation and/or translation of the displayrelative to the base.

Referring now to FIG. 19 , in some implementations, a method 1288 mayinclude detecting a position of the display relative to the surroundingenvironment at 1290. The presentation of the visual information and/orvirtual environments may be rotated and/or translated relative to thedisplay as the display rotates and/or translates relative to theenvironment and/or user. In some implementations, detecting the positionof the display may include measuring a direction of gravity using anaccelerometer. For example, the display may include an accelerometer inthe housing of the display to measure a gravitational direction relativeto the display. In some examples, a display system according to thepresent disclosure may be used in a moving vehicle or other movingenvironment, such that an accelerometer may receive readings related togross movement of the display system. In such applications, the displaysystem may include an accelerometer positioned in the housing and in thebase, allowing the display system to measure relative changes betweenthe display and base.

In other implementations, detecting the position of the display mayinclude measuring a rotation of a gyroscope positioned in the housing ofthe display. The gyroscope may measure rotation and/or other movement ofthe display relative to an initial position. In some examples, a displaysystem may include a gyroscope in each of the display and the base, suchthat relative movement of the display and base may be measured.

In yet other implementations, a camera positioned in the display housingmay capture images of the surrounding environment of the display. Thecamera may compare images of the surrounding environment to recognizerotation and/or translation of the display relative to the surroundingenvironment. In at least one implementation, the display system maypresent visual information and/or virtual environments to a user in azero-gravity or other dynamically moving environment in which agravitational direction is irrelevant to the orientation of the visualinformation and/or virtual environments on the display. For example, adisplay system may be used on the International Space Station or in anairliner, in which the forces and the inertial reference frame of thedisplay system may be unrepresentative of the position of usersinteracting with the display system. In such implementations, a cameraof the display system may identify the orientation of user faces anddetect the position of the display relative to the users in thesurrounding environment.

In at least one example, detecting the position of the display relativeto the environment may include detecting the position of the displayrelative to the base. For example, the base may be assumed to beoriented at a fixed relationship to gravity, users, or other relevantaspects of the environment. Detecting the position of the display may,therefore, be extrapolated to a position of the display relative to theenvironment.

The method 1288 may further include detecting movement of the displayrelative to the surrounding environment at 1292. Detecting the movementof the display relative to the environment may include measuring theamount of rotation of the display, the amount of translation of thedisplay, the rate of rotation of the display, the rate of translation ofthe display, or combinations thereof. For example, detecting movement ofthe display relative to the environment may include detecting theposition of the display relative to the environment and comparing thecurrent position against a previous position or against a known originposition.

In some implementations, detecting movement of the display relative tothe environment may include detecting a position of the display relativeto the environment in real time. For example, detecting the movement inreal time may include detecting the position of the display relative tothe environment with a detection frequency of at least 10 Hz (i.e., thedisplay position may be measured at least ten time per second). In otherexamples, the display system may detect the position of the displayrelative to the environment with a detection frequency of at least 24Hz. In other words, the detection frequency may be that of aconventional cinemagraphic image refresh rate. The detection frequencymay also utilize other standard refresh rates and/or the refresh rate ofthe display. In yet other examples, the display system may detect theposition of the display relative to the environment with a detectionfrequency of at least 48 Hz. In further examples, the display system maydetect the position of the display relative to the environment with adetection frequency of at least 60 Hz. In yet further examples, thedisplay system may detect the position of the display relative to theenvironment with a detection frequency of at least 120 Hz. In stillfurther examples, the display system may detect the position of thedisplay relative to the environment with a detection frequency of atleast 240 Hz.

The method 1288 may further include updating the visual display of thevirtual environment based upon the detected movement in real time at1294. In some implementations, the visual information and/or virtualenvironments may be translated and/or rotated on the display an equaland opposite amount of translation and rotation detected of the display.For example, in an implementation in which a 90° clockwise rotation and100-millimeter downward translation is detected by the display system, areference frame of the visual information and/or virtual environmentsmay be rotated 90° counterclockwise and translated 100 millimetersupward. In other implementations, the visual information and/or virtualenvironments may be translated and/or rotated on the display an equaland opposite amount of rotation detected of the display and a differentamount of translation detected of the display. In yet otherimplementations, the visual information and/or virtual environments maybe translated and/or rotated on the display an equal and opposite amountof translation detected of the display and a different amount ofrotation detected of the display. In other examples, the system mayupdate a reference frame of the visual information and/or virtualenvironments in real time, such that the reference frame of the visualinformation and/or virtual environments is rotated and/or translated 10,24, 48, 60, 120, 240, or more times per second.

In some implementations, updating the presentation of visual informationmay include changing a height of a window of the visual information anda width of the window of the visual information. In otherimplementations, updating a presentation of visual information mayinclude moving or resizing at least one virtual element based on achange to the height or the width of the window.

For example, FIG. 20-1 illustrates the implementation of a displaysystem 100 described in relation to FIG. 1-1 through 1-5 . In someimplementations, the display system 100 may display a virtualenvironment 195. In at least one implementation, the virtual environmentmay include a remote environment (such as during a video conference)imaged by a camera of a remote computing device. In someimplementations, the virtual environment 195 may include at least onevirtual element 196. The virtual environment 195 and/or virtual element196 may have an origin 197 or other reference frame location that mayremain substantially stationary during movement of the display 102relative to the surrounding environment or relative to the base 104.

In some implementations, the display 102 may present to a user a“window” of the virtual environment 195 with a first height 198-1 and afirst width 199-1. During rotation of the display 102 relative to thebase 104, the height and width of the window may change in real timebased on the position of the display 102 relative to the surroundingenvironment and/or base 104. For the purposes of illustration, theorigin 197 of the virtual environment 195 is shown to coincide with thepivot point 116 of the display system 100 in the first position (e.g.,landscape orientation).

For example, FIG. 20-2 illustrates the display system 100 of FIG. 20-1between a first position of the display 102 and a second position. Therotation 114 of the display 102 relative to the base 104 may produce acoupled translation 120 of the display 102 and/or the pivot point 116.The origin 197 of the virtual environment 195 and/or the virtual element196 may translate and rotate an equal and opposite amount to therotation 114 and translation 120 of the display 102. The origin 197 may,therefore, remain stationary relative to the base 104 and/or surroundingenvironment.

FIG. 20-3 illustrates the display system 100 of FIG. 20-1 in a secondposition. The display 102 may present a “window” to the virtualenvironment 195 with a second height 198-2 and a second width 199-2. Thesecond height 198-2 may be equivalent to the first width 199-1 and thesecond width 199-2 may be equivalent to the first height 198-1. Theorigin 197 may be in the same position relative to the base 104 in thesecond position relative as in the first position, while the portion ofthe virtual environment 195 and/or virtual element 196 presented withinthe window of the display 102 may be different.

In some implementations, the virtual environment 195 and/or virtualelements 196 may remain fixed relative to the origin 197. In otherimplementations, the virtual environment 195 and/or virtual elements 196may move or resize relative to the origin 197 when the display system100 moves between the first position and the second position. Forexample, at least one of the virtual elements 196 may move and/or resizeto remain with the second height 198-2 and second width 199-2 of thewindow. In at least one example, some virtual elements 196 may remainstationary, such as a three-dimensional model of an object, while othervirtual element 196, such as virtual elements of a user interface orother control elements of software may move when the display system 100moves between the first position and the second position.

FIG. 21-1 illustrates another implementation of a display system 1300including a display 1302 in communication with a computing device 1308.The display 1302 is configured to display visual information provided tothe display by the computing device 1308. The computing device 1308 mayfurther be in data communication with one or more orienting devices thatmay detect or measure the orientation and/or position of the display1302 relative to the surrounding environment and/or the base 1304 of thedisplay system 1300.

In some implementations, the display system 1300 may include one or morecameras 1301-1, 1301-2 fixed to the display 1302. The cameras 1301-1,1301-2 may image the surrounding environment and provide information tothe computing device 1308 regarding relative movement between framescaptured by the cameras 1301-1, 1301-2. In some implementations, atleast one camera 1301-1, 1301-2 may be a visible light camera thatenables image recognition. In other implementations, at least one camera1301-1, 1301-2 may be a depth sensing camera that enablesthree-dimensional imaging of the surrounding environment. For example,the depth sensing camera may be a time-of-flight camera. In otherexamples, the depth sensing camera may be a structured light camera. Inyet further examples, the depth sensing camera may include anilluminator, such as an infrared light illuminator, that may allow thecamera to image the surrounding environment in low ambient lightsituations. In other examples, the cameras 1301-1, 1301-2 may provideinformation to the computing device 1308 that may be used to detectand/or identify users positioned in the field of view of the cameras.The user identification may be used to detect the orientation and/orposition of the cameras 1301-1, 1301-2. The user identification mayfurther be used for biometric authentication purposed to use to thedisplay system 1300.

In some implementations, the display system 1300 may have a first camera1301-1 that is positioned at a top edge of the display 1302 in the firstposition, and a second camera 1301-2 that is positioned at a side edgeof the display 1302 in the first position. The second camera 1301-2 maybe positioned at a top edge of the display 1302 upon rotation andtranslation of the display 1302 to the second position (such as shown inFIG. 21-2 ).

In some implementations, the display system 1300 may include a pluralityof contacts positioned between components of the connection mechanism1312 or between the base 1304 and the display 1302. The contacts may beelectrical contacts that communicate to the computing device 1308 therotational and/or translational position of the display 1302 relative tothe base 1304. In other examples, the contacts may be surface features,such as detents, ridges, bumps, or other relief features that engagewith an accelerometer, a pressure switch, or other contact detectiondevice that may detect when the contact detection device moves past thesurface features. For example, ridges may oscillate an accelerometer,indicating motion of the display 1302 relative to the based 1304.

In some implementations, the computing device 1308 may be in datacommunication with a gyroscope 1303 that may measure the rotation 1318of the display 1302 relative to the environment or relative to a knownorientation. The display system 1300 may further include anaccelerometer 1305 configured to measure a gravitational direction 1307relative to the display 1302. For example, the accelerometer may detectmovement of the display by measuring changes in a direction of gravitywith an accelerometer. Referring now to FIG. 21-2 , the second positionof the display system 1300 may position the second camera 1301-2 at thetop edge of the display 1302. The cameras 1301-1, 1301-2, gyroscope1303, accelerometer 1305, or combinations thereof may measure thetranslation 1320 of the display 1302 and provide rotation and/ortranslation information to the computing device 1308. The computingdevice 1308 may then receive the rotation and/or translation informationand calculate a translation and rotation of the reference frame for thevirtual environment to render the window of the virtual environmentand/or virtual elements based upon the rotated and translated virtualreference frame, as described in relation to FIG. 20-1 through 20-3 .

For example, the computing device 1308 may receive rotation informationand calculate a reference frame translation and rotation of a virtualenvironment. The computing device 1308 may then rotate and translate areference frame of the virtual environment according to the calculatedreference frame translation and rotation.

In some implementations, the computing device may provide visualinformation to the display to translate the origin of the virtualenvironment and/or virtual elements to move the window and betterutilize the available display area of the display. FIG. 22-1 illustratesanother implementation of a display system 1400 including a display 1402in communication with a computing device 1408. The display 1402 isconfigured to display visual information provided to the display by thecomputing device 1408. In some implementations, the display system 1400may display a virtual environment 1495 or a remote environment (such asduring a video conference). In some implementations, the virtualenvironment 1495 may include at least one virtual element 1496. Thevirtual environment 1495 and/or virtual element 1496 may have an origin1497 or other reference frame location that may translate duringmovement of the display 1402 relative to the surrounding environment orrelative to the base 1404.

In some implementations, the display 1402 may present to a user a“window” of the virtual environment 1495 with a first height 1498-1 anda first width 1499-1. During rotation of the display 1402 relative tothe base 1404, the height and width of the window may change in realtime based on the position of the display 1402 relative to thesurrounding environment and/or base 1404.

For example, FIG. 22-2 illustrates the display system 1400 of FIG. 22-1between a first position of the display 1402 and a second position. Therotation 1418 of the display 1402 relative to the base 1404 around thepivot point 1416 may be measured by one or more orienting device (suchas those described in relation to FIG. 21-1 and FIG. 21-2 . The origin1497 of the virtual environment 1495 and/or the virtual element 1496 mayrotate an equal and opposite amount to the rotation 1418 of the display1402. A translation 1420 of the origin 1497 may be couple to therotation 1418 of the display 1402. The origin 1497 may, therefore, move“upward” relative to the base 1404 and/or surrounding environment.

FIG. 22-3 illustrates the display system 1400 of FIG. 20-1 in a secondposition. The display 1402 may present a “window” to the virtualenvironment 1495 with a second height 1498-2 and a second width 1499-2.The second height 1498-2 may be equivalent to the first width 1499-1 andthe second width 1499-2 may be equivalent to the first height 1498-1.The origin 1497 may have translated upward relative to the base 1404 inthe second position relative as in the first position, while the portionof the virtual environment 1495 and/or virtual element 1496 presentedwithin the window of the display 1402 may be different.

In some implementations, the virtual environment 1495 and/or virtualelements 1496 may remain fixed relative to the origin 1497. In otherimplementations, the virtual environment 1495 and/or virtual elements1496 may move or resize relative to the origin 1497 when the displaysystem 1400 moves between the first position and the second position.For example, at least one of the virtual elements 1496 may move orresize to remain with the second height 1498-2 and second width 1499-2of the window. In at least one example, some virtual elements 1496 mayremain stationary, such as a three-dimensional model of an object, whileother virtual element 1496, such as virtual elements of a user interfaceor other control elements of software may move when the display system1400 moves between the first position and the second position.

In some implementations, a display system according to the presentdisclosure may allow a user to rotate a display of a computing devicewith a virtual environment that updates in real time to keep the virtualenvironment stationary as the display rotates and translates. In atleast one implementation, a display system according to the presentdisclosure may allow a user to rotate and translate a large formatdisplay with less than 8.0 pound-feet (10.8 Newton-meters) of torque,and the display system may “pull in” to one or more stable positionswithout user intervention.

The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there areone or more of the elements in the preceding descriptions. The terms“comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “oneimplementation” or “an implementation” of the present disclosure are notintended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additionalimplementations that also incorporate the recited features. For example,any element described in relation to an implementation herein may becombinable with any element of any other implementation describedherein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein areintended to include that value, and also other values that are “about”or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art encompassed by implementations of the presentdisclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadlyenough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the statedvalue to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. Thestated values include at least the variation to be expected in asuitable manufacturing or production process, and may include valuesthat are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a statedvalue.

A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of thepresent disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes,substitutions, and alterations may be made to implementations disclosedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Equivalent constructions, including functional“means-plus-function” clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function, including bothstructural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalentstructures that provide the same function. It is the express intentionof the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functionalclaiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion,and modification to the implementations that falls within the meaningand scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

It should be understood that any directions or reference frames in thepreceding description are merely relative directions or movements. Forexample, any references to “front” and “back” or “top” and “bottom” or“left” and “right” are merely descriptive of the relative position ormovement of the related elements.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or characteristics. The describedimplementations are to be considered as illustrative and notrestrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Changes thatcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beembraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of presenting visual information to auser, the method comprising: detecting a first position of a displayrelative to a surrounding environment; detecting in real time rotationof the display about a fixed base from the first position toward asecond position, the detected rotation relative to the surroundingenvironment; during the detected rotation, repeatedly updating anorientation of dynamic visual information displayed on the display, theupdating occurring in real time based upon the rotation of the displayrelative to the surrounding environment, wherein upon completion ofrotation the displayed objects have not changed from an originallocation such that the display appears to a user as a window into avirtual or remote environment; and during the detected rotation,providing a torque in the direction of the rotation at a first stage,and providing a dampening torque with a dampening device against thedirection of the rotation at a second stage, the dampening torque beingrelative to a rate of movement of the display.
 2. The method of claim 1,where real time is at least 10 Hz.
 3. The method of claim 1, detecting aposition of the display including identifying one or more objects in thesurrounding environment with at least one camera.
 4. The method of claim1, detecting a position of the display including measuring a directionof gravity with an accelerometer.
 5. The method of claim 1, detectingmovement of the display including detecting rotation of the display witha gyroscope positioned in a housing of the display.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, detecting movement of the display including detecting rotationof the display by measuring changes in a direction of gravity with anaccelerometer.
 7. The method of claim 1, detecting movement of thedisplay including recognizing at least one user with a camera.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, updating the presentation of visual information onthe display including rotating and translating the visual information anequal and opposite amount to detected movement of the display relativeto the surrounding environment.
 9. The method of claim 1, repeatedlyupdating the display of visual information further including repeatedlychanging a height of two or more windows of the visual information and awidth of the two or more windows of the visual information.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, repeatedly updating the display of visual informationfurther including repeatedly moving or resizing at least one virtualelement based on a change to the height or the width of the two or morewindows.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic visualinformation is changing.
 12. A system for presenting visual informationto a user, the system comprising: a display; a fixed base; a connectionmechanism that allows rotation of the display relative to the fixedbase, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to provide a torquein the direction of rotation; a dampening device configured to provide adampening torque opposite the torque in the direction of rotation tolimit a rotational rate of the connection mechanism, the dampeningtorque being relative to a rate of movement of the display; at least oneorienting device configured to detect an orientation of the display; anda computing device in communication with the display and the at leastone orienting device, the computing device including a microprocessorand a hardware storage device having instructions stored thereon thatwhen executed by the microprocessor cause the computing device to:receive at least one of a translation or rotation information from theat least one orienting device regarding position of the display;calculate at least one of a reference frame translation or rotation of aremote virtual environment, wherein the reference frame is fixedrelative to gravity; rotate or translate a reference frame of the remotevirtual environment according to the calculated at least one of thereference frame translation or rotation; and display at least one of arotated or translated virtual environment with the display while thedisplay is between the landscape and the portrait configuration withinthe same plane.
 13. The system of claim 12, the computing device beingpositioned in a housing with the display.
 14. The system of claim 12,the instructions further including not moving at least one virtualelement within a window of the remote virtual environment displayed onthe rotated and translated remote virtual environment.
 15. The system ofclaim 12, the remote virtual environment imaged through a camera of aremote computing device.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the fixedbase is moveable relative to the ground.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the fixed base is a rolling cart.
 18. The system of claim 12,wherein the remote virtual environment is a video conference imaged by acamera of a remote computing device.
 19. The system of claim 12, thecomputing device remaining stationary while the display moves betweenthe landscape configuration and the portrait configuration.
 20. A systemfor presenting visual information to a user, the system comprising: adisplay; a fixed base; a connection mechanism that couples rotation ofthe display relative to the fixed base and translation of the displayrelative to the base; a dampening device configured to limit rotationalrate of the connection mechanism, wherein the dampening device isfurther configured to provide a dampening torque that is relative to therate of movement of the connection mechanism; at least one orientingdevice configured to detect an orientation of the display; and acomputing device in communication with the display and the at least oneorienting device, the computing device including a microprocessor and ahardware storage device having instructions stored thereon that whenexecuted by the microprocessor cause the computing device to: receiverotation and translation information from the at least one orientingdevice regarding position of the display, the translation or rotationinformation corresponding to a position of the display between alandscape and a portrait configuration in a same plane; calculate areference frame rotation and translation of a virtual environment;rotate and translate a reference frame of the virtual environmentaccording to the calculated reference frame translation and rotation;and display a rotated and translated virtual environment with thedisplay while the display is between the landscape and the portraitconfiguration in the same plane.
 21. The system of claim 20, the atleast one orienting device including a first orienting device configuredto measure rotation of the display and a second orienting deviceconfigured to measure translation of the display.
 22. The system ofclaim 20, the reference frame having an origin that coincides with apivot point of the display in a landscape mode.
 23. The system of claim20, the instructions including receiving rotation and translationinformation at a detection rate that is at least a refresh rate of thedisplay.
 24. The system of claim 23, the detection rate being at least60 Hz.
 25. The system of claim 20, the instructions further includingmoving at least one component of a user interface relative to thereference frame of the remote virtual environment upon rotation of thereference frame.
 26. The system of claim 20, wherein the fixed base ismoveable relative to the ground.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein thefixed base is a rolling cart.